Just as a church building needs solid steel beams to keep it from collapsing, our lives require the unshakable support of God’s truth. When we hold fast to sound doctrine—clinging to it as sailors would lash themselves to a mast in a storm—we find stability and strength to withstand life’s challenges. Believing rightly shapes our behavior, and elders are called to both anchor themselves in God’s Word and help others do the same, so that we are not swept away by lies or false teachings. The truth of Scripture is not just theological information; it is the practical foundation for living a transformed life. [14:47]
Titus 1:9 (ESV)
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Reflection: What is one lie or false belief you have struggled with about yourself or God? How can you intentionally “hold fast” to a specific truth from Scripture today to anchor your heart and mind?
Elders are called to pray for the flock, focusing not only on physical needs but especially on spiritual strength and insight. While God can and does heal in miraculous ways, the deeper need is often for wisdom, endurance, and inner fortitude to face life’s storms. Trusting in the Lord and seeking His guidance brings health to our souls and even impacts our physical well-being. When we pray for one another’s spiritual growth, we help anchor each other so that we are not tossed about by circumstances, but instead find peace and strength in God’s presence. [25:54]
Ephesians 3:16 (ESV)
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Reflection: Who is someone in your life facing a difficult situation? Take a moment today to pray specifically for their spiritual strength and insight, not just for their circumstances to change.
Elders are tasked with protecting the church from dangers both outside and within—especially the twin pitfalls of legalism and license. Legalism adds burdens and rules to the gospel, while license abuses God’s grace as an excuse for sin. True freedom in Christ is not found in either extreme, but in living as bondservants to righteousness, anchored in grace and truth. By knowing God’s Word deeply, elders can discern what is false and help the church walk in genuine liberty, guarding against teachings or attitudes that would lead people astray. [40:56]
Acts 20:28-30 (ESV)
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you tend to drift toward either legalism (rule-keeping) or license (carelessness with grace)? How can you seek true freedom in Christ today?
Peacemaking is a vital function of elders, but it is also a calling for every believer. When conflict arises, Jesus gives us a clear process: go directly to the person, seek reconciliation, involve wise witnesses if needed, and, if necessary, bring it before the church. The goal is always restoration, not humiliation. Approaching others with humility and gentleness, we can help bring light to misunderstandings and sin, leading to healing and renewed fellowship. Even when the process is difficult or slow, God’s way brings true peace and unity to His people. [44:47]
Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV)
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Reflection: Is there someone you need to approach for reconciliation? Pray for humility and courage, and consider taking the first step toward peace today.
When someone is caught in sin or struggling, those who are spiritual are called to restore them gently, being careful not to fall into temptation themselves. Restoration is not about condemnation, but about coming alongside with compassion, helping others return to right relationship with God and the church. Elders, and all believers, are to approach such situations with patience, humility, and a desire for true healing. The ultimate aim is not just correction, but the joy of seeing someone reconciled and growing in Christ. [49:20]
Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Reflection: Think of someone who may be struggling or drifting away from God. How can you reach out to them this week with gentleness and encouragement, seeking their restoration?
The journey toward an elder-led church is a significant step, rooted in the biblical vision for healthy, mature leadership. Elders are not simply older individuals, but those who are spiritually mature, experienced in the faith, and marked by a blameless character. This blamelessness is not about perfection, but about living in such a way that there is “no dirt” on their reputation—in their marriage, family, emotions, and conduct. The New Testament doesn’t provide a single, exhaustive list of elder responsibilities, but by drawing from various passages, four essential functions emerge: preaching, praying, protecting, and peacemaking.
Elders are called to preach to the flock—not in a condescending way, but by proclaiming truth and feeding the church with sound doctrine. This is vital because what we believe shapes how we live. Just as a building needs solid beams to withstand storms, believers need the steel of God’s truth to support them through life’s challenges. Elders must first anchor themselves in the Word before they can effectively teach and encourage others.
Prayer is another core responsibility. While physical needs matter, the emphasis in Scripture is on praying for spiritual strength, wisdom, and insight. The spiritual life is deeply connected to the physical, and elders pray that the church would be anchored in God’s truth, able to endure trials with inner strength. God heals in various ways—supernaturally, through medicine, or ultimately in death—and elders are called to pray faithfully, trusting God’s will in each situation.
Protection is also crucial. Elders guard the flock from both external threats and internal dangers, such as false teaching, legalism, or license. By knowing the truth deeply, they can discern and address error, helping the church avoid the pitfalls of adding to the gospel or abusing grace. Their role is not to control, but to shepherd and oversee, ensuring the church remains rooted in the freedom and responsibility of Christ.
Finally, elders are peacemakers, stepping into conflict with humility and gentleness. They help guide the process of reconciliation, following Jesus’ instructions for resolving disputes. Their goal is always restoration—bringing people back into right relationship with God and the church. The structure of an elder-led church is not about consolidating power, but about multiplying shepherds who can care for the spiritual needs of the congregation, freeing others to serve in their unique roles and ensuring the church grows in health and unity.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV) — > The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
- Acts 20:28-31 (ESV)
> Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
- Titus 1:7-9 (ESV)
> For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
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